South Africa travel tips when traveling in the Free State province
South Africa’s Free State province is dry, but far from boring, the Free State with its vast open spaces and cloudless blue skies offers those who like to explore, literally and figuratively, the ideal canvas.
Here outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy bird watching, animal watching, trophy hunting, hiking, horseback riding, biking, 4×4 off-road driving, rafting, fly fishing, camping, climbing, caving or just relaxing. in its more than 80 parks and reserves. like the picturesque Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
History buffs have many important sites to delve into and those with geological interests will marvel at the site of the meteorite impact at Vredefort, the oldest crater in the world.
CLIMATE:
The Free State is hot in summer (December-February) when most of the rain falls, but it can be very cold in winter (April-July) with severe frosts in most of the province. Snow is often recorded in the eastern mountains and occasionally in the rest of the region.
SHOPPING:
Traditional dress; woven sneakers; silk painting; account work; ‘mampoer’ (distilled fruit alcohol); red meat, game and biltong (dried meat); cherry or asparagus products; original art; beautiful handcrafted items from Phuthaditjhaba; mohair rugs and sandstone products.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MAIN TEN ATTRACTIONS:
Golden Door:
Highlands National Park In the Maluti Mountains, named for the golden sandstone cliffs; the scenery is magnificent incl. towering Brandwag rock and exhilarating weather; Staying is a popular choice for both humans and animals in this highland habitat
Bloemfontein:
The ‘City of Roses’, Bloemfontein has cultural and political significance, with sandstone architecture, important museums and monuments and a busy calendar of events; don’t miss the Franklin Game Reserve, the only one in the world completely surrounded by a city; the Macufe Festival in September; the Loch Logan Boardwalk; the historical jazz performances of the municipality and the War Museum.
Parys and the dome of Vredefort:
Named after Paris, Parys is located on the Vaal River in the Vredefort Dome – a crater caused by a massive meteor that struck Earth some 250 million years ago; In Parys, don’t miss the Golf Island in the middle of the Vaal and other water activities and in Vredefort, adventure junkies can hike, see paintings of Saint Virgins and ruins of Iron Age settlements, climb rocks and abseil; the 200 km dome is best seen from the air.
The battlefields:
Many historical sites related to the Anglo-Boer War are located in the Free State. Explore 13 battlefields, 8 military monuments, 2 war museums, and 3 war and concentration camp cemeteries. Some of the major battles of the war in 1900 are: Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Sannaspos, Mostertshoek, Jammerbergdrift, Sand River, Biddulphsberg, Yeomanry Hill, Roodewal, Surrender Hill, and Doornkraal.
Xhariep / Gariep:
Which means “great river”; a vast open meadow fed by the 2000 km Gariep Dam that offers travelers endless views of open blue skies, starry nights and fresh air; land of farms, parks and reserves ideal for hunters and ecotourists.
Thabo Mofutsanyana locations:
Clarens is a picturesque town described as the “Jewel of the Free State”, artists and art galleries abound here and photographers find a magnet in the fall and spring landscape; Memel is fast becoming a birding mecca with more than 350 species, including many “specials” and 15 species included in the Red Data list. Other attractions are the scenery and the spectacular floodplain of the Seekoeivlei wetlands; Ficksburg is packed with adventure options, from the usual hiking, fishing and hunting activities to unusual activities like high-altitude diving (2,650m above sea level) and bullock cart adventures.
Eastern Highlands:
A breathtaking landscape in a pristine area with snow-capped mountains, thickly vegetated valleys, and wild gorges; great for romantic hideaways, trout fishing, bird watching, and hiking; don’t miss the bushmen paintings.
River Vaal:
South Africa’s inland water mecca offering countless opportunities for water sports such as rafting, lazy sailing, motor boating and waterskiing; they also have hunting farms, lodging facilities, camping sites and a casino; Deneysville and Jim Fouche Resort near Oranjeville are important places.
Lejweleputswa (Free State Gold Fields):
Take underground mine tours of some of the world’s deepest mines on the Goldfields Route; Visit Welkom, one of the few cities in the world slated for completion before construction, where you can take a trip to the world’s deepest wine cellar at 857m below the earth’s surface at the Saint Helena Mine and see the Gold Museum in the city, as well as Phakisa Freeway, one of the 5 best motor racing circuits in the world; Virginia was home to the richest gold reefs in 1946 and is a nature lover’s paradise.
Basotho Cultural Village, Qwa Qwa National Park:
The picturesque Qwa Qwa National Park offers an authentic traditional African experience in the form of its Basotho Cultural Village; see cane and stick structures and mud huts, sip sorghum beer, view weaving, and have a local healer predict his fortune for you.